Discussion Question

Textbook

Art of Public Speaking, 13th Edition

By: Lucas, Stephen E.

https://mega.nz/file/ddBmnJhZ#Z2gsFlnntCoIlw5gyuWTn11YcxIATpVkyZYwTdwCmU8

Just copy the link and past it into your browser, after that click Download NOW  Part One Discussion: Overcoming Stage Fright – 200 words.
Fear, sweaty palms, and labored breathing are some real issues for many people when it
comes to public speaking. This fear is manifested in the form of nervous and anxious feelings.
However, most of the time, the audience is completely unaware or to a lesser degree of how
nervous the speaker is.
Watch the TED-Ed video by Mikael Cho titled The science of stage fright (and how to
overcome it) by using the below link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/mikael_cho_the_science_of_stage_fright_and_how_to_overcome_
it/transcript?language=en
Read the article “Rebrand Stage Fright to Overcome It” by Tori Rodriguez using the below
link answer the questions given below.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rebrand-stage-fright-to-overcome-it/
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Why do we get stage fright?
What are the symptoms of stage fright? Discuss whether you have experienced it while
speaking in public or have you witnessed someone going through a stage fright experience?
What are the suggestions given by Mikael Cho to adapt to stage fright?
Have you had a stage fright moment? How did you handle the situation?
Discuss some fear-reducing strategies that you would like to incorporate from the above
mentioned resources as well as from Chapter 1, pages 9-11, on the approaches for squelching
nervousness.
Note: Remember to cite the source and personalize your response in order to bring the
discussion board to life.
Part Two: Reply to 2 students – 100 words each.
Part Three: Introductory Speech about YOU – 2 and 3 minutes long
Introduce a theme or central idea that helps us know you better
Compelling storytelling
You can use a PowerPoint
Must have an outline on Microsoft word
Topic Options – select only ONE:
(NO politics or science fiction or murder)
1. What you can’t see about me
2. Focus on an event or person that helped shape the person you have become
3. Discuss a song or movie that you can relate to on a personal level and why
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1. Stage fright is when we think we are going to fail in front of our audience and we are
going to embarrass ourselves if we make a mistake and our body reacts to those
emotions. In the Youtube talk show TedTalk he explains that when we get these
negative thoughts our hypothalamus releases a hormone called ACTH, which then
makes us get all these symptoms like sweaty palms, racing heart beat, upset stomach
and trouble breathing. I remember when I was in elementary school I did a school
speech and I felt knots in my stomach and super sweaty palms, to be honest I could not
calm myself down until I was half way done with my speech and I realized I was doing
ok and it was not that bad as long as I did not make eye contact with the audience.
Mikael Cho mentioned taking deep breathes and stretching before a speech or thinking
positive instead of negative so you can feel more relaxed. Some fear-reducing
strategies are think positive of the outcome of the speech, visualize everything turning
out great, and prepare and practice over and over again to feel more confident in your
speech or performance. Next time I have to speak in front of an audience I would use
the positive thinking and visualizing method to help with my stag fright.
2. One of the reasons why we get stage fright is we are anxious about making a mistake
when speaking. It’s also very intimidating knowing you are the center of attention.
Some symptoms of stage fright may include sweaty palms, shortness of breath, and a
strong desire to avoid speaking. I typically stutter or mix up my words when I get
nervous when speaking, and sometimes my voice gets shaky. Mikael Cho vividly
describes stage fright in his TED talk The science of stage fright (and how to
overcome it). He suggests that we practice our speeches to gain confidence. I
remember I had a stage fright moment when my eldest sister asked me to give a speech
at her wedding. The thought of speaking in front of new family members at a fancy
boat wedding made me recoil. But then I thought to myself if my sister has never said
no to any favor I have asked, and I decided that fact alone would make an acceptable,
sentimental introduction to my speech. Some tactics we could apply to reduce anxiety
are to take care of ourselves physically, take deep breaths, relax and tense up our
muscles. We could also turn our “negative nervousness” into “positive nervousness”
and use the adrenaline that we get from being anxious to our advantage.